Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2018 09:50:43 -0400
Reply-To: "ddbjorkman@verizon.net" <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "ddbjorkman@verizon.net" <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Campground Air Conditioning for Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <16557962601-1e9c-22616@webjas-vac079.srv.aolmail.net>
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-----Original Message-----
From: ddbjorkman <ddbjorkman@verizon.net>
To: jim.felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Mon, Aug 20, 2018 9:46 am
Subject: Re: Campground Air Conditioning for Vanagon
Before my wife and I took our Westy on Rt. 66 in May/June, we decided our New England bodies may not like the heat of the southwest. We took a look at AC options. Seeing how cargo space was at a premium, including the cargo rack, we came up with an option that worked out really well. We purchased a LG 8000 BTU portable. A stand up unit with an accordion hose that goes out a window. It only took up a 36" square behind the drivers seat. It was light and the bracket for the hose outlet fits in the front window with only a tiny area we filled with bubble wrap. No heavy AC and support mechanisms out my window. The accordion hose wasn't a big thing and got tossed wherever. It meant going to a pay campground with 110 V, but it saved us as a heat wave running temps of 110+ hit us as we crossed the southern west. Helped us out as we went up Big Sur and returned past Glacier NP, the Black Hills and the Badlands.
Dave B.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim. Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sat, Aug 18, 2018 5:56 pm
Subject: Re: Campground Air Conditioning for Vanagon
Thanks for this. Been thinking about similar.
Jim
On Sat, Aug 18, 2018 at 4:50 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
> I live in San Diego; most of my camping is nearby or within a couple day
> radius. That usually means traveling to higher elevations. Humidity is
> low; temps may be high but then around sunset, the hot air goes "whoosh"
> upward to the sky.
> But every now and then, I take my Tintop 85 Vanagon on a cross-country
> jaunt. In the summertime, like now. Am currently in Indiana at the Ohio
> border. Ugh...sure is humid...sultry. And it stays that way all night
> long. Sticky.
>
> So I have a contraption that you might like to make for yourself: it's a
> 5000 BTU Room air conditioner, attached to the passenger side forward
> window with a plywood piece. Pretty basic really: a 3/8" plywood board,
> cut to size; then glued on some wood to plywood to kinda make a "saddle"
> that rests on open passenger (or driver) side window. Some small wooden
> struts and carriage bolts and wingnuts to allow for attachment, and then
> also some 1/2" foam strips around the perimeter, to defeat bug entry.
> Attach the plywood bracket; then attach the A/C; took me 15 minutes first
> time; now takes me 3 minutes or less.
>
> I use a 5000 BTU room air conditioner; I bought mine at end of season sale
> at Target for $65 (10 years ago BTW). Anyway, an appropriate rectangular
> cutout in plywood for the A/C to enter, and then whatever nuts and bolts to
> attach.
> Of course: This setup requires shore 120 VAC power. Most of the
> campgrounds WEST of the Mississippi River do not have this luxury. But
> most of the campgrounds EAST of the Mississippi River DO have electricity
> available. Also, a generator is an option; I've read that the new cheapo
> one from Harbor Freight ($449 with coupon) is pretty good.
> Also, for you Westy folks out there....I've seen various configurations
> which either go through uptop forward screen (with A/C on luggage rack) or
> the one that kinda hangs off straps off the gutters (Terry K) and into
> passenger side window.
>
> All I'm saying is that my simple setup works SUPREME!! Currently inside
> at 78F and 38% humidity; super comfy. Love it. Am looking around
> campground now...yep, sure enough...each and every travel trailer or van or
> even Class 3 motorhome has some kind of A/C going.
>
> I can't give many more details right now since I'm on the road with
> minimal internet connection, but I encourage you folks that live in the USA
> Midwest or are thinking of traveling there in the summertime to consider
> this option. Total "glamping" I will admit!
> The main thing is NOT the reduction in temperature....it's the reduction
> in humidity....that's why swamp cooler things do NOT work in places where
> it's humid; need real air "conditioning".
>
> (Also...my tonight's campground is I think a former Army Core of Engineers
> one; anyway, it's $15 for electric and $10 for primitive. Previous Indiana
> State Park Campground was $39.10 total for an out of state guy like
> me...OUCH)
>
> Rich
> San Diego
>
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